3 Workers Injured In Fire At Chesapeake Energy Site

State investigators said there was minimal environmental damage from an explosion that sparked a large fire and injured three workers Wednesday night at a Marcellus Shale natural gas well site in Independence Township, Washington County.

"No incident or accident is acceptable and we will aggressively learn the facts surrounding this incident and we're committed to continuous improvement in all of our operations," said Scott Rotruck, Chesapeake Energy's vice president for corporate development.

Chesapeake Energy said the incident was not related to hydraulic fracturing.

Independence Township Emergency Management Director David Howard told Team 4's Paul Van Osdol that Chesapeake Energy said experts would be called in to assists, but they never showed.

"Chesapeake didn't live up to what they had told us at all," Howard told Van Osdol. "It's a mess."

Avella Fire Chief Eric Temple said "it would be a big help" when asked if Chesapeake Energy needed to do more to make sure everyone is properly trained.

Watch Paul Van Osdol's Report

"We take the training we do in local areas very seriously. Working with communities is something we take seriously and something we will look at as we continue this investigation," said Chesapeake Energy Director of Corporate Development Matt Sheppard.

Chesapeake Energy has identified the workers injured in the fire as Russell Schoolcraft, 48, of Clover, W.Va., Richard Lancaster, 50, of Sardis, Ohio, and Frank Lancaster, 36, of New Martinsville, W.Va.

The company said Schoolcraft and Richard Lancaster were taken to UPMC Mercy hospital, while Frank Lancaster was transported to West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Both Richard Lancaster and Frank Lancaster remain hospitalized.

"Our prayers are with the families and we certainly hope that the injured get a speedy recovery and do well," Chesapeake Appalachia representative Stacey Brodak said.

Watch Keith Jones' Report

The victims' injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Chesapeake Energy said all three workers were wearing flame resistant clothing when the fire started during a temporary well testing operation.

Chesapeake Energy said the three men were not part of the tests and were removing water caused by melting snow.

DEP crews are investigating the explosion to determine what went wrong. The gas company said there was no imminent danger to the surrounding community or the environment on Thursday.

Van Osdol found that Chesapeake Energy was fined $15,000 by the DEP when hydrochloric acid spilled at a drilled site in Bradford County in February 2009.

A Chesapeake Energy subsidiary paid a $7,000 OSHA fine in March 2010 following a deadly accident at a Bradford County drilling site.

OSHA is also investigating another death at a Sullivan County site.

More than 15 fire companies responded to the scene Wednesday night, while 20 acres of land were cleared to make sure the area was safe, Jones reported.

Plenty of nearby residents said the incident left them shaken.

"We heard this big noise. It sounded like a piece of equipment hit our house," Campbell said. "I feel so bad for those poor families. They didn't leave this morning thinking they were going to make it home and it's really sad."

Neighbors called Channel 4 Action News to report the incident, many initially thinking the fire was the result of an explosion.

Residents React

"We looked out the window and (saw) big flames up over the hill from where the gas well was. Then we heard a bunch of helicopters coming in, fire trucks and all that stuff," said Fullen.